Chennai, April 23: West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have recorded historic voter participation during the 2026 Assembly elections held this Thursday. According to provisional data released by the Election Commission of India, West Bengal saw a remarkable 91.78 percent turnout in its first phase, while Tamil Nadu reached a record-breaking 84.69 percent across all 234 constituencies.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that these figures represent the highest-ever poll participation in both states since Independence. He affirmed that the Commission salutes each voter for their enthusiastic contribution to the democratic process. In West Bengal, the turnout surpassed the previous 2011 record of 84.72 percent, while Tamil Nadu’s participation significantly exceeded its prior high of 78.29 percent.
The high turnout occurred amid a heavily monitored environment, with the Commission maintaining 100 percent webcasting at polling stations. Officials maintained that while the atmosphere remained politically charged, the voting process was largely peaceful across the 152 constituencies in West Bengal and the entirety of Tamil Nadu. These turnout figures are expected to play a decisive role as both states navigate a high-stakes electoral battle.
